Dispensing apparatus



April 7, 1953 Filed Nov. 12, 1946 H. S. CHILDERS DISPENSING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

BY v

QTVUENE) April 7, 1953 Filed Nov. 12, 1946 H. S. CHILDERS DISPENSING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Shet 2 IN VEZV TOR.

April 7, 19 53 H. s. CHILDERS DISPENSING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 12, 1946 INVENZ'OR.

HTTOENEV Patented Apr. 7, 1953 DISPENSING APPARATUS Harry S. Childers, Fresno, Calif., assignor to Vendorlator Manufacturing Company, Fresno,

Calif.

Application November 12, 1946, Serial No. 709,209

'" 7 Claims.

My present invention relates to dispensing apparatus in general and particularly to a bottle dispensing apparatus of the coin-controlled type.

Especially the invention relates to dispensing machines for bottled beverages which automatically deliver to the purchaser a bottle of refrigerated beverage upon the depositing of a coin.

Coin-operated vending machinesare found today in many public places ready to dispense an article which is usually of the packaged or bottled type. Such machines are usually serviced during those hours of the day in which they receive little use and usually by a person having charge of a large number of units. These service men have regular routes and the difficulty of servicing a particular machine and the length of time required determines the number of machines which can be put under his care. If the loading operation is simple and expeditiously carried out, the operating cost is reduced and accordingly the profits to the owner increased. Above all, however, the machine must promptly and with accuracy deliver the purchased article upon the insertion of the purchasing coin and also must refuse to accept additional coins when empty.

In the dispensing machine constructed in accordance with the present invention the pur: chased article is delivered promptly and positively upon the insertion of a coin and the operation is repeated as frequently as coins are inserted until the machine is empty. When empty it is conveniently serviced from above by a system which insures that it will be completely filled even though it was not completely empty at the beginning of the filling operation.

With the foregoing in mind, it is the purpose of my invention to provide a dispensing apparatus for bottles and the like which is characterized by its simplicity, ease of servicing, durability and by its positive operation.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a dispensing apparatus in which bottles are fed into the top of the machine and are dispensed therefrom at a lower point.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a bottle dispensing machine in which bottles to be dispensed are movably supported upon a helically extending track onto which they are fed at the upper end and from which they are dispensed at the lower end.

v It is still another purpose of my invention to provide a dispensing apparatus in which bottles are movably supported upon a helical track and o'nwhich they are propelled downwardly to the delivery position and on which they are propelled upwardly during the filling operation.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus in which bottles are dispensed from the lower end of a helical track on which they travel downwardly in normal operation and on which they travel upwardly as a preliminary step in the feeding operation to insure that the machine will be filled to its maximum capacity.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a dispensing'machine in which bottles are fed into the top and advanced downwardly in a step-by-step movement.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the top part of a dispensing apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention and shows the arrangement of the bottles upon the helical track in the machine interior;

Figure 2 is a partial transverse section upon the line 22 of Figure l and discloses the spacing of the bottles by the bottle propelling cage;

Figure 3 is a partial vertical section upon the line 3-3 of Figure 1 and illustrates the bottleactuated loading finger switch;

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 2 but with the bottles removed to show the control switches and the delivery chute;

Figure 5 is a partial section upon the line 5-5 of Figure l and illustrates the top feeding of the unit;

Figure 6 is a vertical section through the loading finger switch illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a section through the cage-operated carrier switch shown in Figure 4; and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic showing of the electrical circuit of the unit.

Referring again to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated and is seen to comprise a cabinet, indicated generally by the reference character C and which preferably includes a metallic casing i2 suitably lined interiorly with insulation I3 above a horizontal platform M which divides the cabinet into an upper chamber l6 and a lower enclosure ll. Chamber I6 houses the bottles to be dispensed and is preferably refrigerated by suitable means, while the enclosure l "I may serve as the compartment housingthe refrigerating mechanism and as a storage compartment for goods. The open top of cabinet 0 is closed by a door or cover l8 pivoted at one side at l9 and interiorly insulated 3 at #3 in the manner of the cabinet casing l2. A suitable encircling seal 2! is compressed between the cover inner wall 22 and a peripheral casing member 23 to provide a hermetically sealed chamber. As will be apparent, the pivoted top enables the apparatus to be loaded with case from above. For'the discharge of the bottles there is provided a delivery chute 25 slopingdownwardlyand outwardly at a slight distance above platform I l. Chute 25 is normally closed interiorly by a door 2'3, movably mounted as will: bodescribed, and is also provided at its outer end with a resilient bumper 25 to interrupt the outward movement of the bottle being'deli'vered.

Cabinet C may be of any desired shaperund,

square, r as desired. Normally, however, it will:

be arranged with its major dimension extended vertically as illustrated in the drawings, but its exact shape is not of the, essence. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment a side door' 21. is mounted upon hinges 2B in the manner illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5. Door 21 is actually outside of the cabinet proper, being outside of the insulated upper portion or chamber 16 thereof, but it does provide means by which entrance may be gained to lower enclosure I1.

The track system upon which the bottles within the cabinet chamber [6 are movably mounted for travel from the, top to the bottom is indicatedgenerally by the character T and comprises fixed inner and outer rails Hand 30, respectively. Rail 39 is carried by a cylindrical member 3! which forms an inner'enclosing wall for themsulation 13 ofcabinet casing l2, while the inner rail 29 spirally encircles and is supported, upon a centrally positioned vertically extendingstationary cylinder 32 carried top and. bottom by spiders 33 and 34, respectively. The spiders are themselves carried by a vertically extending stationary post 36 supported at its lower end in a' socket seat 3! carried by the top-surface of platform [4. The upper end of the shaft is seated.

at 38 in a channel member 39 which forms, together with transverse channel member 4|, a spider the outer end of which seats upon the casing member 23.

Shaft 36 is non-rotatable and the cylinder 32 carrying the innerrail 29 is fixed relatively thereto. It is to be noted that on any given radius the inner rail- 29 is positioned slightly- This is'clearly, illustrated above the outer rail 30. in Figure 1 and the purpose of the arrangement is to support a bottle substantially horrzontally for rolling movement despite the fact that its capped end supported by rail 29 is of smaller diameter than its opposite end carried by rail 30.

To get the bottles, illustrated in the drawings and bearing the character B, onto the track system the cover or top I8; is pivoted from its closed position, illustrated inFigure 1, to its. open position, illustrated in Figure 5, in which. the upper end of the track is exposed. To space the bottles at desired intervals to prevent scratching and also to provide means by which they may be propelled, there is provided a propelling cage indicated by the reference characterv PC. This cage comprises a multiplicity of radiallyextending circumferentially spaced pushing elements or plates at which are-contouredas illustrated clearly in Figures 4 and 5, and so. positioned as to accommodate a bottle B between each pair.

Longitudinal movement of each bottle is. preventedby the concentric rail-supporting} cylinders 3i and 32 which. are spaced apart a dis-- tance only slightly greater than the length of the bottles. Clearly, if bottles are fed into the track system, at the upper end and between adjacent pusher elements or walls 16, as illustrated in Figure 5, and if the propelling cage PC is rotated about its supporting post 36 in the proper direction, the bottles will be propelled downwardly toward-the lower end of the track.

It is desirable that delivery be accomplished automatically and, of course, imperative that the pusher plates 46 move in synchronism and at the same rate. To effect these results, the inner upper and inner lower extremities of each pusher element M; are secured fixedly to spiders 4'! and 48, respectively. Spider 4! is located at thetop of chamber it immediately below the stationary channel members 39 and 4| while lower spider i8 is rotatably supported upon a suitable thrust bearing 49 carried by post 36. Similarly the upper and lower outer extremities of plates 46 are secured to rings or rims 5i and 52, respectively, to provide a rigid construction- M. The-motor and the speed-reducing me-ch-- 'anismare both-carried by an adjustableplatform 58 supported by and above the cabinetinterior platform It. The energization of the motor effects the rotation of the gear 5-1, and so the rotation of the propelling cage PC with its pusher elements 46 and the movement of the bottles B positioned therebetween. It is clear that with the motor M rotating in one direction, unit PC will travel as to advance the bottles downwardly from the top to the bottom of the track system T. Equally clear is the fact that uponthe rotation of motor M in the opposite direction the bottles present in the track system will be advanced toward the top.-

In the normal operation of the machine and upon the energization of the driving motor M lower extremities of rails 29 and 39, indicated. at 6A and 62, respectively, at which time. it will be supported by the outer rim 52. of cage PC and by the rim of lower spider 49 of cage PC, as illustrated in Figure 1. The continued rotation of the propelling. cage P'C carries the lowermost bottle to a position immediately above thepivoted discharge flap 64 which, incidentally, includes the chute-closing door 24. Flap 64 is formed'with a flat base 68 lined with parallel ridges 61 upon which a bottle may slide easily, and it also has side detaining walls 58. The flap is mounted adjacent its inner end by a pivot pin 69 upon a bracket H the extremities of which are supported by fixed parallel cross. members E2 positioned upon opposite sides of the central supporting post 36. A coil spring M is connected between the inner extremity of flap (i l and a fixed stop it and at all times exerts a force which tends to hold the flap in its upper chuteclosing position, as illustrated infull lines in Figure 1.

Just before a bottle is propelled into a position immediately above the flap E i-its outer endcontacts a curved cam element 78,,thefunction of which istoslidethe bottleinwardly sufficientlyv as to displace its: outer. end :fromthe rim 52. of. cage PC. CamlB is so contoured that this result obtains when the bottle is immediately over flap 54. It is noted that this displacement is permitted by the fact that the inner cylinder 32, upon which the inner rail 29 is supported, is cut away at 19 so as not to interfere. In the preferred embodiment illustrated the stationary spider 36 carries a relatively soft resilient abutment element 8| positioned as to limit the inward movement of the bottle but not before its outer end has been moved from the supporting rim. 52. Upon being so displaced the outer end of the bottle B drops, under the action of gravity, onto the underlying and downwardly sloping base 66 of flap 64 and, overcoming the holding tension of the coil spring 14, pivots the flap downwardly from its full line position illustrated in Figure '1, to its dotted line position illustrated in the same figure in which its lower end rests upon the stop '16. When so positioned its ridged base 64 merges smoothly with the upwardly and inwardly sloped surfaceof chute 25 and a bottle may slide into the chute and against the resilient stop 26 and so into a position in which it may be picked up by the purchaser.

The energization of the actuating motor M was accomplished, as stated, by the insertion of a coin into a coin-operated control mechanism of any ordinary type and which is connected to the motor in a circuit which will hereinafter be described. It is, of course, necessary that the motor rotate only sufiiciently to discharge a single bottle and that thereafter it be de-energized awaiting a subsequent purchase. To effect the de-energization of the motor after the desired single delivery there is provided a two-position carrier switch 86 the actuating lever 81 of which extends into the pathway of the inturned ends 88 of the pusher elements 46. Lever 81 is shaped as a cam,

in the manner illustrated clearly in Figure 4, and

when the propelling cage PC has been rotated sufiiciently just to eject a bottle, the end 88 of one of the pushers 46 moves at that time into contact with the lever 81 to change its position and to open the motor circuit. When next a coin is inserted into the machine and the motor again energized the rotation of the propelling cage PC causes the end 88 to 'move past the lever 81' whereupon the latter automatically moves into its motor-operating position and awaits the approach of the oncoming pusher element.

In addition to the necessity for the de-energization of the actuating motor upon the discharge of a single bottle, it is also important that means be provided to prevent its subsequent energization, and even the reception of another coin,

while either of two possible conditions exist.

These conditions comp-rise, first, the continued presence of a bottle in the discharge chute, a condition which would be evidenced by the continued holding of the flap 64' in its discharging position illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 1; and, second, the absence of a bottle in position to be discharged upon the actuation of the machine, a condition which can exist because the machineis empty of bottles or because it is in operation and a succeeding bottle has not been advanced to the final position from which it will be discharged. These desirable objectives are obtained in a simple manner.

To prevent the energization of the motor with a bottle still present in the discharge chute, the pivotal pin 69 of the fiap E4 is connected to rotate with the flap as it pivots and is provided with a right angle end 9|, as shown in Figure 4.-

' ways be lowered with a bottle in delivery position, this arrangement positively prevents the discharge of a second bottle before the removal of the first bottle.

As the switch 92 is also in series with the normally energized lock-out coil I52, hereinafter 'more fully described, its openin effects the deenergization of that coil and so prevents the insertion of another coin.

To prevent. effectively the actuation of the machine or the acceptance of money when there is no bottle in the machine ready for delivery, whether due to the fact the machine is empty or to the fact that it is in operation and the next succeeding bottle has not been advanced to its final position, there is provided still a third switch which is called the full-empty switch. This switch, indicated by the reference character 96, is also carried by the supporting element 12 in the manner of switch 92 and, in fact, is located relatively close thereto as is illustrated in Figure it is possible to energize the motor but if, following discharge of a bottle, nosecond bottle advances into position for discharge then the switch lever 91 is not held down, switch 96 assumes a 7 different relationship and two results occur immediately. The first result is that the. lock-out coil on the previously mentioned coin control mechanism is de-energized and no coins can be accepted, and the second result is that an empty warning light is lighted.

In addition to the safeguards to insure satisfactory operation which have been described and which are for the protection of the purchaser, the apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention also includes features which make it extremely advantageous from the standpoint of servicing. Let it be assumed that the machine is to be serviced. If, upon pivoting the cover 18 to open position the machine is entirely empty, it is only necessaryforthe service man to feed bottles successively in at the top of the track system T. Bottles are dropped, one at a time, between that pair of pusher plates 46 positioned just to the right of channel member 4|, as illustrated in Figure 5. With the bottle so positioned it rests upon and deflects downwardly lever arm [M of a single pole, double throw switch I02 carried by the underside of the channel member 4!. This'moveme'nt changes the internal connections of the switch I02 so that the actuating motor is energized to rotate the propelling cagePC. The bottle B resting upon lever arm [BI is moved downwardly on the egesaese track T whereupon=-lever arm I01 assumes its original position; themotor:isde energized, and

further movement stops; The insertion of-a' new bottle effects thesam'e results; each movement beingsufiicient to permit-the acceptance of a Let. it besupposed, however,: that uponthe service man'sopeningithe. cover I8 he finds the machine :is:. not completely discharged. and that a..fe.w.: bottlesiremaim. These bottles will, of

course, be positioned below the topof. the. track andrthere .wil1'be empt'y spaces. at: the: top. equal inunumber to the sales which. have been made. It is imperative: that. no. empty 'spaces be present between bottles. on thetrack system for, as has been described, upon an empty space-reaching thepenultimate position in the unit the-fullempty-switch. 96 will prevent. further operation;

Accordingly, means: are provided by which the actuating motor M is reversed to drive' the propellingcagePC in. a reverse direction until the uppermost bottle rides onto afixed guide I 04 positioned adjacent and parallel to-the actuating lever IUI of a loading switch I02. In this position the'upwardly moving bottle actuates the lever it in the manner'of a bottle fed into the machine as previously described, andaltersxthe interior relationship of switch i 92. whereupon the energizing circuit through the motor is opened and the motor stops rotating. Thereafter if areversing switch, which is. indicated by the reference character RS in Figure 4 and is seento be positioned between the cabinet proper II and the pivoted door 27, is returned to its original normal operating position, the motor M is at onceenergized, its circuit being closed by. the presence of the bottle B on the lever IGI; and c rotates cagePC sufiiciently to'move that bottle therefrom as previously described. Thereafter bottles are fed into the machine and upon thev switch lever IiiI as described in the filling of a completely empty machine.

Turning now to Figure. 8, we find illustrated the electrical circuit. by whichthedriving motor M and the variouscontrolmeans of the apparatus are interconnectedto effect the desired opera.- tions. The various parts are shown positioned in the figure in their ready-to-operate positions. Conductors III and H2 represent the outside power leadsand connect directly. to a double-pole switch. I I3. from which incomingleads Il4 and ll5fextend. into the machine. Lead II4-passes directly to the reversing switch RS which is seen to. comprise. threesingle bladed switches each;

movable between two fixed contacts and in syn-' clironi'sm. withthe other blades.

toeject the.bottles,-afixedcontact bearing thesame reference character'supplemented.bya suf fix a. Withthe switch blades reversed, as

Thesemovable. blades. are indicated by the reference characters duringthe reverse direction operation cfjthemotor, each-.blade-makes contact with afixed con.- tact bearing. the same character:supplementedby a sufiix b. The incoming. current-carrying lead H4: connects directlyto a leadtJI26,.com'-- prising one. offour leads I26, I21, I 28---and I 29 extending from motor M .to the reversing: switch RS-.. Lead I M-also: connects directly to. station-1 any contact l-22-bon-i thereversingjeside of-them switch.-.-

Leads ln and l29 fromthe motor M'can be seats. upon.stationarrcontactiI2Ict or I2Ib, it

receivescurrent directly from incoming conduc tor 1'14011 fromfincomingpower. lead H5 through acircuit which will be. described. Similarly lead; I283 connects to the. mid-point of' pivoted blades I22 and'is adapted to receive current from fixedcontact I22a, and so indirectly from the incomingpower. lead H5, or, with the blade I22 in the. reverse drive direction in which it seats upon contacts] 22 b, to receive current from the incom-- ing lead H4. It is seen, then, that the reversal imposition of pivotedsswitch blades I21 and I22 betweenthe full line and dotted line positions of Figure 8-will eiTect the'reversal inthe flow of current in the motor field-and so the direction of rotation of the-motor.

Current from the incoming power lead II5 doesnot pass directly to the reversing switch IRS in the-manner of lead I I 4 but instead is conveyed thereto. by a more-devious path. Conductor II5 connects directly to the normally closed bottleactuated flap switch 92 and unless that switch isclosed, a condition which exists at all times except when the flap 64is in its lowered position,.

Lead. I3'I' also connects to lead I32 in series with.

the. blade ofloading finger switch 32 which is adaptedtoseat upon either of its contacts I02a and I021), being normally biased into contact with the latter. andconnecting directly therethrough, by means of still another lead M3, to the fixed contact I232: of the reversing switch RS.

As stated, the carrier switch 86 is held, with the apparatus-in the ready-to-operate condition, in-the position illustrated in Figure 8 with its blade in' contact with stationary contact b and under the actuation of the element 88 which moves with the bottle pusher element 46. Incoming. current from lead I I5is conducted from stationary contact 8622 by a lead i34 directly to the. coin controlled switch I50 and in particular to the. movable contact thereof. The latter is normally held: in open position as illustrated but, in thepresence of an inserted coin, moves to contact itsstationary contact I5iia. The latter is connected through lead I36, as is the contact I020; of loading switch Hi2; to the coil. I 3'! of. side of the coil being connected by lead I 38' to the incoming power lead: I I6. Insertion'of a coin closing the switch [50,61T80I55l3h8 energization of therelay coil I31 whereupon itsnormally opencontacts MI, I 42, an'd I43;-;I44 areclosed'. The latter pair'areconnected by leads I46, I41 in parallel with the coin control switch I50 so that as the coin switch opens upon the passage of the coin, the relay coil I3'I nevertheless remains energized to hold the contacts closed. Relay contacts MI and I42 are connected respectively to leads I48 and I49. The latter connects directly to lead I32 while the former connects to a lead I58 directly connected to stationary contact I23a. of switch I23. With relay contacts MI and I42 closed, the incoming current from lead II5, which is present in lead I32 by virtue of the fact that flap switch 92 is closed, is conducted directly to the direct driving side of the reversing switch at I23a. As motor lead I29 is connected to blade I23, the motor is energized and rotates, the motor armature circuit comprising contact I23a, blade I23, lead I29, the motor armature, and lead I26 to the opposite incoming line 4. Current to the motor field is conducted from blade I23 through lead I291], to stationary contact I22a, through blade I22 to lead I28, and into the motor field from which it returns via lead I21 to blade I2I and thence to stationary contact I2 Ia to join lead I26 which connects directly to incoming power lead II I. h 7

Immediately the motor begins to rotate the lever 81 of carrier switch 86 is released by its pusher actuating element 88 and the movable switchblade moves into contact with its stationary contact 86a placing it in direct connec tion with lead I50 connected to RS contact I23a. Motor M continues to rotate until flap switch 92 is opened by a bottle. By this time the next following pusher blade 46, and in particular its end 88, will have contacted lever 81 of switch 86 to move its movable contact from stationary contact 86a to stationary contact 86b so that the circuit which includes the relay coil I31 and the coin switch II will be ready for re-energi'zation upon the deposit of a second coin again to close switch I 5I.

As the flap-controlled switch 92 is in series with the incoming power line H5, and as all motor energizing current must pass through it, it is clear that with the flap lowered and accordingly switch 92 in its opened position, the motor 51 cannot under any circumstances be energized. This prevents the possibility of damage to the machine from an attempt to drop a bottle into the chute with a bottle already present therein.

To prevent the acceptance of a new coin by the coin controlled mechanism under certain undesirable conditions as previously described, a lock-out coil I52 is provided which connects directly between stationary contact 86b of carrier switch 86 and stationary contact 961) of "fullempty switch 96. So long as coil I52 is energized it is possible for additional coins to be inserted into the coin-operated mechanism to close switch I5I. Whenever coil I52 is de-energized, a coin inserted will be rejected. The specific mechanism by which this rejection is accomplished is not a part of the present invention and any standard coin-controlled switch mechanism with lock-out means making use of a constantly energized lock-out coil may be adapted for use herein. Both carrier switch 88 and full-empty switch 96 are shown in their normal, machine-ready-to-operate condition in Figure 8 and it is clear that current will normally flow through the look-out coil I52, the switch 96 being connected directly by lead I50 to the motorwhich, with the reversing switch in its 1G normal position as illustrated in full lines, has its opposite side connected to incoming lead H4. The value of the current which flows, however, is insufficient to actuate the motor and results in but a very slight power loss. Clearly with the blade of switch 96 in contact with stationary contact 96a, a condition which exists when there is no bottle resting upon the leaf spring 98 which contacts the actuating lever 91 of the switch, the switch will be opened, and it will be impossible to insert a coin into the machine. Similarly with the carrier switch 86 moved from its contact 88b to its contact 86a, a condition which exists during the operating cycle at all times except at the end of each delivery operation, the lock-out coil will be de-energized. With the switch 96 positioned in the empty position, that in which the blade 96 contacts the contact 9611, the current will flow through a signal light I56 connected by leads I5? and I58 to the incoming current lead H5 and to the contact 96a, respectively. As in the case of the look-out coil I52, current will flow through light I56 whenever the machine is empty for the switch 96 is then so positioned that its blade contacts stationary contact 96a, the reversing switch RS being positioned for normal operation as indicated in the drawing in full lines. Here again the current con sumed is a minimum, being sufficient only to light the light.

The return of the bottles. in the machine to the top thereof as previously described and prior to inserting new bottles is accomplished by changing the position of the reversingswitch blades I2I, I22 and I23 from their full line posi-' tions to their dotted line positions of Figure 8. Current will then flow through the motor armature, to which the leads I26 and I29 connect, in the same direction as before, entering from the incoming lead H5 and the intermediate connections including the loading finger switch I92 at the stationary contact I23b. Thence the current will flow through blades I23, lead I29, into the armature and out from the armature through lead I26 to incoming lead II4. Current will flow in the reverse direction through the field for the motor leads I21 and I28 are now reversed with respect to leads H4 and H5. Current will now enter lead I21 from contact I2Ib connected directly to lead I29 and so to switch I23 and stationary contact I23b which, as described, is connected to incoming power lead I I5. The second field lead I28 now connects to lead M4 by way of the blade of switch I22 and its eta-- tionary contact I22b.

To accomplish this reversal of connections in the reversing switch RS it is only necessary to open the side cover or door 21 and to operate manually the switch lever I6I which controls simultaneously the movement of three blades I2 I I22 and I23. This change of position in the reversing switch RS automatically energizes the driving motor M for current from the lead II5 now enters through normally closed flap switch 92, through lead I3I and lead I32 to closed loading finger switch I02, and then through lead wardly upon their track T until, and as previously described, the uppermost bottle rides upon the lever IOI of switch I02 whereupon the flow of current is instantly interrupted. The service man then knows that he can begin to place bottles 1 i into themachine. He thereupon,reversesswitch RS to ritsoriginal -position,-that is, moves the blades IZI, I22 and I23 into their fullline positions of Figure 8. As the =uppermost :bottle is ,resting upon the actuating lever .Ifi-I of loading switch 102, the motor is immediately energized v andsthrough the following-circuit. Current entersone side of the .motor ,from the incoming power lead H4 "passing through the lead 425 to the armature and through switch I2! 'anddead 12-1 to the field. ,It leavesvia lead I48 :to which armature lead I29 connects through switch I23 and to which field lead I28 connects shy away of switch-I22, ,lead I29 and switch 123. .Lead I59 connects-directlvto lead M8 which connects in .turn .-to contact I 4 lot relay R, the oppositermemher I 4-2 of which connects throughulead 1 35 to leadl32 leading back to lead L3] and to the incoming current-conducting lead H 5. 1 Contacts I4I-and I42, however,- are shownopen but :with theloading finger switch I02 in the dotted line position. of Figure 8,-in whichitm held rby the:upvpermost bottle resting upon the switch :lever :l-EH, current can "flow from the incoming: lead ltd-5, through flap switch 92, lead 'I3I, rleadl32 :to loading I switch zI il2vandthence via its contract HI-2a'through lead I36, to theirelay :coil :I:3:l:and thencervia conductor I38 to the :opposite incomin g ipowerlead IM. :Thiszeliects 'therenergization of the relay coil I 31 instantaneously upon the reversal-of the reversing switch RS to its normal-:position as :shown llll' full lines and, accordingly with .a bottle resting upon loading switch lever.:ll -the.rel-ayrR is :instantly closed, whereupon current is available .to the'motor :immediately'zupon the closing of contacts-1C4! and I42 as :suggested. .The motor rotates as :previously described until the bottle resting 'uponthe lever arm :l0-I moves therefrom. Thereupon the blade of switch 162" will move "from its dotted line position to its :full line,'t-he relay coil 13.! will'be de-energized, whereupon contacts I4] and M2 will open and current :to the motor will :be cut off.

The loading Lthen comprises, 1 as previously describedj-the insertion of the bottles into "the machine upon the lever m: of loading switch I02, whereupon the operation just described is repeated successively and the motor =actua'ted"to move the jpropelling cage .step-by-step until finally all of the :spaces upon the track T are filled. Should the operator insert one bottle too many the result merely will be that the lowermost bottle will be rejected from the machine.

It is believed from the foregoing that the-operationtof the presentinvention is clear. Briefly tozsummarize, with themachinefilled-with bottles the,;:purchaser;need only insert a coin into the proper islot whereupon the motor'M is energized and thepropelling ccageiPC is rotated suiiiciently tozefiect'the disengagement of the lowermost bottle fromtits supporting means andits putward projection under-the. action of gravity onto the awaiting flap :66 whence :it. slides into the delivery chute :23. This operation may be'repeated successively-byvrinserting one coin after another. When-finallythere remain nobottles to be ejected from-the machine, the'ma'chine will refuse to accept additional coins for its full-empty switch 19.6 will indicate the absence of the necessary bottle and will eliect the 'de-energization of the look-out coil I52 to effect the rejection of coins. Warningthat the machine is empty is given by :a warning light E56 also controlled :by full-empty switch 196.

'The loadingoperation of the machine is-simple and easy. The operator -or loader need only pivot to open position the covering top 18 whereupon bottles can :be fed one by one into an awaiting top position, their entrance effecting the closing of the loading switch I92 which energizes the motorand actuates the propelling cage sufficiently .to advance the bottle resting upon the lever IOI of the switch 102 sufilciently as to enable the switch to return to 'its original position. Successive positioning of bottles causes the propelling cage to advance step-by-step until the entire machine is filled.

Should the machine be only partly unloaded at the time the loading takes place, and to insure that no empty space resides between the newly inserted'bottles and thosebottles now in the machine, means are provided whereby :the bottles in the machine are carried to thetop of'thecarrying track. These means include a reversing switch RS reached by opening the pivoted doorZI :on the side of the 'unit. a'Reversing-switchRS by the movement-of its-actuating lever Hil zimmediately-causes the motor to -rotate :in :atreverse direction and to actuate the-:propellingtcage 112C to advance the contained bottles upwardly .on theirwspiral track. When :the uppermost :bottle rides'onto the. lever IUI .ofxthe switch 'Iflzicurrent is cutoff, .the motor de-energized, 2111615110 further movement takes :place. *Upon '.'reversing the switch -RS againito its original normal foperating position, thezpresencenof :aibottleeuponztheiswitch lever -I IH; effects ,the innnediateienergization 'of the motor whereupon the propellingzcage is advanced inrthemanner previously describediinconnection with-theloading-of theempty machine. Bottles are then :fed into the "machine one by one as thou h it had been completely empty at the beginning of the loading operation.

While the particular apparatus herein shown anddescribed in detail is "fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore statedgitS-is to be understoo'd that it is tmerely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the 'invention'and that no limitations are intended'to the details of construction or .design herein shown other than as defined in the. appended claims.

I claim n 1. In a vending machine having acabinet provided with a loading opening and -'a delivery opening, an article track extended between the loading opening and the "delivery opening, reversible article propelling means movable .along the track to advance articles to the loading opening and-to the delivery opening, and reversible motivating means having driving connection .to the propelling means; a double throw switch having electrical connection :to the reversible motivating means mounted adjacent to the track and to the-loading opening .engageable fby articles loaded ontothe track through the loading opening controlling the reversible motivating means *to advance articles "toward the delivery opening and engageable by articles advanced toward the 'loading'opening upon reversing of the propelling -means to interrupt operation of the motivating means and the propelling means.

2. 111a dispensing machine having a continuously downwardly inclined stationary pathway constructed and arranged to support vendable articles, a reversible propelling member movable along said pathway to advancearticles-selectively upwardlyand downwardly of said pathway and a reversible electric 'motor having driving -connection to the propelling member, the combination of an electrical circuit for the motor ineluding a manually controlled reversible switch, a coin controlled switch adapted to energize the motor in response to receipt of a coin, a limit switch engageable with the propelling member adapted to interrupt the electric circuit for the motor in response to movement of the propelling member downwardly of the pathway a predetermined increment of travel, and a double throw switch disposed in the pathway at the upper end thereof engageable by articles when the reversible switch is positioned to advance articles downwardly of the pathway to establish electrical connection to the motor in by-pass relation to the coin controlled switch and engageable by articles when the reversible switch is positioned to advance bottles upwardly of the pathway to interrupt electrical connection to the motor.

3. A bottle dispensing machine comprising a cabinet, a downwardly inclined stationary helical bottle carrying track in the cabinet, a cage to propel a multiplicity of bottles along said track including vertically extended pusher elements in association with the track defining individual bottle compartments, electrical driving means having driving connection to the cage, a reversible control switch adapted to energize the driving means selectively to drive the cage to advance bottles up and down the track, a limit switch mounted for engagement with the pusher elements to interrupt motivation of the cage in a directionadvancing bottles downwardly of the track upon each successive movement of a bottle compartment to a predetermined delivery position, a coin controlled switch adapted to reenergize the driving means to advance bottles downwardly of the track, and a double throw switch mounted at the upper end of the track engageable by bottles electrically to by-pass the coin controlled switch when the reversible switch is positioned to advance bottles downwardly of the track and engageable by bottles to interrupt operation of the driving means when the reversible switch is positioned to advance bottles upwardly of the track.

4. In a bottle dispensing machine, a cabinet having a loading opening in a top portion thereof and a discharge opening in a bottom portion thereof; a helical track for bottles in said cabinet extending downwardly therein from the loading opening to the discharge opening; a propelling member to propel bottles along said track; a reversible motor having driving connection to the propelling member whereby bottles are moved selectively in either direction on the track; a reversing switch electrically connected to the motor; a limit switch wired electrically in series with the reversing switch and the motor engageable by the propelling member to interrupt movement of the propelling member to advance bottles downwardly of the track after a predetermined increment of travel; a coin controlled switch electrically connected in series with the reversible switch, limit switch, and motor adapted to energize the motor in response to receipt of a coin; and a double throw loading switch mounted adjacent to the loading opening in a position engageable by bottles loaded onto the track through the opening and by bottles advanced upwardly of the track by the propelling means to the opening, said loading switch having a normal path of electrical flow in series with the reversing switch, and the motor when the reversing switch is positioned to advance bottles upwardly of the track, which path is interrupted by engagement of the switch by bottles advanced upwardly of the track, and a second path of electrical flow in parallel to the coin controlled switch closed by engagement of the switch with bottles loaded onto the track through the loading opening.

5. A bottle dispensing apparatus including a cabinet, a stationary helical bottle carrying track in the cabinet having an upper loading end and a lower delivery end, a movable cage to propel a multiplicity of bottles along said track, a reversible motor having driving connection to the cage, and an electrical energizing circuit connected to the motor including a manually controlled reversing switch selectively positionable to energize the motor to advance bottles upwardly and downwardly of the track, and a double throw switch disposed for bottle engagement at the upper end of the track conditioned by the reversing switch to energize the motor in response to bottle engagement when the reversing switch is positioned to advance bottles downwardly of the track and to de-energize the motor in response to disengagement by such a bottle, and to energize the motor in the absence of bottle engagement therewith when the reversing switch is positioned to advance bottles upwardly of the track and to de-energize the motor in response to bottle engagement when the reversing switch is so positioned.

6. In a bottle dispensing apparatus, a bottle carrying track having a delivery point at one end and a loading point at an opposite end, a

movable cage to propel bottles along the track,

a reversible electric motor to actuate said cage to move said bottles toward either end of the track, and an electric circuit to energize said motor including a reversing switch, a coin operated switch and a loading switch connected electrically in parallel, the loading switch having a position in the path of travel of bottles at the loading end of the track and being moved to a second position by engagement with bottles loaded on the loading end of the track and by engagement with bottles moved by the cage toward the loading end of the track, said loading switch in its said second position being electrically connected in series with the motor and arranged to open in response to such bottle engagement to interrupt operation of the motor when the reversing switch is positioned to move bottles toward the loading end of the track and in its first named position being electrically connected in series with the motor and arranged to close in response to hottle engagement when the reversing switch is positioned to move bottles toward the delivery end of the track.

'7. A bottle dispensing apparatus including a cabinet, a stationary helical bottle carrying track in the cabinet having an upper loading end and a lower delivery end, a movable cage to propel a multiplicity of bottles along the track, a reversible motor having driving connection to the cage, a manually controlled reversing switch selectively positionable to energize the motor to advance bottles upwardly and downwardly of the track, a double throw switch mounted at the upper end of the track having a control lever extended into the pathway of bottles at the upper end of the track and being displaceable from the pathway in response to bottle engagement, and an electrical circuit interconnecting the motor, the reversible switch and the double throw switch energizing the motor when both a-zgaeegoss F5 2 i :thezreversing switch-is positioned dao advance UNITEDL S'IATES :P'A'IENTS bottles downwardly iOf IhB durak andttheioontrol Numb-er Na 6 level is displaced from the pathway by bottle 1.390 1 rs h ur engagement and energizing ,themotor Whenboth 3 1 Lowther Apr 1933 'the reversing switch is positioned to :advance 5 Bliss i, 1935 bottles upwardly .of the pathway and-the control 3 Chime-rs July 1%2 lever is extended into the Pathway 2:309:449 Harding IIIIIL Jan. 26 1943 HARRY-S CHILDERS- 2,371,316 Rice et a1. Mar. 13, 1945 REFERENCES CITED .10 2,441,519 Terhune May 11, 1948 The following references are 'ofrecord inthe file ofthis patent: 

